Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors My oddball Featherweight

I'm sorta in downsizing mode and dug this oddball out of the safe. It's a NRA Model 70 30-06 raffle prize from around 1997 or so. Barrel and box are both marked CLASSIC FEATHERWEIGHT, made in New Haven, 6 digit, very nice looking Fajen stock, inletted sling mounts, high polished blueing, and gold NRA markings on floor plate and muzzle end. Anyone else have/had one of these? If so, do you shoot it, sell/trade it, or stash it away for another day? I'm trying to decide what I want to do with this, it sorta looks like a Supergrade with some gold bling. Any idea what something like this - NIB, unfired, with all hang tags and manual, is worth?

I think something like that would need an auction site for top dollar. I think low end would probably be $800 - $1000 ... High end might be significantly higher if you found the right bidders. That stock is very nice. No custom shop proof, correct?

I've shot one just like it. Funny thing is I was watching it on gunbroker and almost bid on it. An acquaintance that I used to shoot with pulled it out of and started telling me about it and that he had just bought it off of gunbroker. I said, I was real close to buying it myself. He let me shoot it and it was very sweet. The rifle was chambered in 30-06 and it shot well. Easily 3/4" 3 shot groups. This was a few years ago, he paid $800.00 for it.

Would there be some sort of marking on the rifle if it came through the custom shop? The floorplate is marked "XXX of 650" with other NRA markings in gold. From my limited research, I think this was the NRA "Gun of the Year" back in '97, all 650 in 30-06. I've read that these maybe came from the custom shop, have also read that Winchester just sent all the parts in the white to Fajen and said knock yourself out. I dunno, will dig into it again.

Re CS; Yes; usually there would be an extra proof centered atop the barrel just forward of the junction with the receiver - so two in total.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/872765652

There are two others on gunbroker starting at $1500.

The link begins significantly lower and should give you a good idea of its value at its final sale price.

Rifles are for shooting.

Pretty danged nice wood on it! Hope you get a fair price for it.

Please don't tell my wife that!

Just one proof mark, right up top on the barrel just fwd of the receiver.

I was able to get some info today from the Browning/Winchester historian who actually was able to look up an invoice tied to the serial number....., this barreled action was sold to the NRA in March of '97 and shipped straight to Baron Technologies, a company that does all sorts of engraving and customizations for most firearms companies and for groups like the NRA (Baron Tech is in CT close to New Haven, historian said Winchester and Browning have been utilizing their services for many years). Baron Tech did all the polishing, blueing, and gold engraving/plating. From there, the action was sent to Fajen and fitted to the stock. All finished up and delivered to the NRA, it was a raffle prize at a Friends of NRA function.

This jives with the box label that says MODEL 70, BOLT ACTION CENTERFIRE B/A, Classic Featherweight Barreled Action, 30-06 Spfld., 22" Barrel

So how does it shoot?

Nice rifle. I have an original pre-64 Featherweight 30-06 that I have had for many years. Shoots MOA consistently.
Winchester should have continued these rifles with iron sights.
That would have been better money invested rather than the WSM series-calibers that were not needed or appreciated.
Now Remington looks to be acquired by the Navajo nation in AZ. Good for them.

I was a local FONRA Chairman back in the late 1990's and early 2000's. That was indeed a banquet "Gun of the Year" - our banquet started up in 1996, so it could have been that early.

It is an oddball, but there is beauty in the eye of the beholder to a certain extent. I know the gold trim and NRA on the stock is sort of unappealing to some. At the price point I almost bought one for ($800), it would be tempting. At some of the prices you guys are quoting, not so much..

I reckon I'll just keep this one around, maybe even scope it/fire it one of these days! Hypothetical question....., would you trade this for a recent Extreme Weather 30-06 (Portugal made) if you had the chance?

I wouldn't.

F no. I wouldn't . No chance in hell..

Do we know how it shoots yet?

Depends if I wanted/needed an all weather ‘06. Based on the sale price of the one nyrifleman linked, it would probably be an even trade or a trade in your favor (monetarily).

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This!